New Atrial fibrillation Treatment Guide

Controlling the heart rate of patients provides no advantage over lenient control.

• Not a candidate for coumadin? Then clopidogrel and aspirin is recommended to prevent stroke or clots.
• Dronedarone –reduces hospitalizations for cardiovascular events but cannot be used in Stage IV ventricular dysfunction and  depressed ventricular function.
• Catheter Ablation (to maintain sinus rhythm)- a tube is inserted into a blood vessel and guided to the heart. Ablation is ideal if patients have not had success with drug treatment, don’t have severe lung disease.

References:

L. Samuel Wann, Anne B. Curtis, Craig T. January, Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, James E. Lowe, N.A. Mark Estes III, Richard L. Page, Michael D. Ezekowitz, David J. Slotwiner, Warren M. Jackman, William G. Stevenson, and Cynthia M. Tracy. 2011 ACCF/AHA/HRS Focused Update on the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation (Updating the 2006 Guideline): A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation,